Page 16 of A Lot Like Forever
The woman had followed her, her daughter on her feet now and tottering off unsteadily. “No, I’ll catch him later. I was going to ask him over for dinner, but now that he’s got you I guess he won’t be so desperate for a home-cooked meal. Don’t tell him I said it, but he’s been a lost soul without Mrs. T looking after him!”
Faith smiled as the child climbed up onto the sofa. “Your daughter is beautiful.” Faith hated that she was bristling over the thought that the child could be Nate’s.
“She loves her uncle Nate’s house, that’s for sure.” The woman smiled. “Sorry, where are my manners? I’m Chloe.” She held out her hand.
Faith took it, relief hitting her like a train head-on.Nate was the girl’s uncle?“Faith,” she said. “So you must be . . .”
“Ryder’s wife,” she said, going over to unsuccessfully grab the little girl. “And this is Rose.”
“Poor girl, having an uncle like Nate to keep all the boys away when she’s older.” Faith smiled. “I can just see him with his brothers, all lined up on the porch with shotguns.”
Chloe laughed. “Maybe, but right now she has both her uncles wrapped around her little finger, and her daddy, too. She’s lucky to be the only girl.”
“Can I get you a drink?” Faith was suddenly a whole lot more relaxed.
“You having a coffee?”
“I’ve just had one, but if it means I don’t have to clean for a bit longer then I’ll have another.” Faith was already starting to warm toward Chloe, especially now she knew she was Nate’s sister-in-law and not her competition.
She turned to boil the kettle again, pulling another coffee mug down.
“Do you work at Joe’s sometimes?” Chloe asked.
Faith grimaced. “Yeah. Well, I used to. Have I served you there?”
Chloe shook her head, a smile bracketing her mouth, eyes suddenly dancing like she was about to burst out laughing. “Not really, no. But I’ve just put two and two together. You’re Sam’s sister, right? Ryder pointed you out to me a couple of times.”
“Guilty as charged.” She raised an eyebrow. “Why?”
“I just can’t believe you’re in Nate’s house when he’s usually so . . .” Chloe shook her head. “It’s none of my business. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Faith looked up, coffee forgotten. “Say it, what you were about to tell me. What is it?”
Chloe sighed and rescued Rose from the sofa where she was flapping her hands wanting to get down. “It’s just that he’s always kind of twisted in knots over you. Chase and Ryder like having him on about it.”
Now it was Faith laughing. “Nate all twisted up over me? Don’t be silly. I think you have the wrong girl.”
“I don’t,” Chloe said, leaning in to retrieve her coffee and grinning at her like they were co-conspirators. “And I shouldn’t have said anything; he’d kill me if he found out. But it’s true. The big, indestructible Nate King all in a knot over you. We all laugh about one night when we were out and he caught sight of you. Talk about rustling his feathers.”
Faith flushed; she could feel the heat hit her cheeks, wishing that she could believe what she was being told. “I don’t believe you for a second.”
They sat in silence for a moment, both blowing on their hot coffee and taking little sips while Rose kept herself entertained pottering around the living room that adjoined the kitchen. She’d pulled out some toys that Nate had obviously stashed away for her.
“So what’s it like living in paradise every day?” Faith asked.
“Here?” Chloe smiled. “I guess itisparadise. I thought I’d be practicing as an attorney and spending most of my time in the city, but then Rose came along and there’s no way I could leave her. Not yet.”
Faith loved the way Chloe looked at her daughter, had always wished she’d had a mom who gazed at her so adoringly. “When did you graduate?”
“About a year before she was born,” Chloe told her. “So I worked in Dallas until I was about ready to pop. Nate’s been great in involving me in some work for the family, though, so I’ve still been able to keep my head in the game. Long may it continue.” She laughed. “And before that, I worked at Joe’s, and that’s where I met my husband. It must have been before you started.”
“I’ve only been working there over summer vacation,” Faith said.
Faith grinned as Rose came toddling over, arms outstretched and looping around her mom’s neck when she gathered her up and lifted her to sit on her hip.
“And that’s my cue to go. She’s probably ready for her nap,” Chloe said. “Thanks for the coffee.”
“My pleasure.” She was still stuck on the fact that Chloe had some crazy idea that Nate liked her. “Maybe I’ll see you again soon.”
